Communications Director

The office of Council Member Lincoln Restler is looking to hire a Communications Director - to lead communications, digital, and potentially more!

To Apply:

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to District33Hiring@gmail.com. Please use the subject line “Communications Director - Name.” Applications will be accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

About Lincoln and the 33rd Council District: Lincoln represents the 33rd Council District, which stretches from Greenpoint down to Brooklyn Heights along the Brooklyn waterfront.

Lincoln entered office in January 2022 with the goal of being the district’s 24/7 problem solver. Our office offers robust constituent services, spearheads organizing campaigns to proactively engage constituents on the issues that matter most, and leads on a variety of policy and legislative issues. Lincoln is dedicated to pushing forward-thinking policy on responding to climate change; creating truly affordable housing; safe and livable streets; and building non-police emergency response capacity. Read more about Lincoln here.

Description of Position:

The Communications Director will be responsible for ensuring effective communication to constituents and press for the Council Member. They will manage relationships with press to ensure our office is a leading voice on issues and initiatives and own the digital program finding creative ways to showcase our work, values, and priorities across key platforms. The Communications Director will be part of the senior leadership team in the office and will have the opportunity to shape and drive the office agenda. They will be responsible for making more New Yorkers aware of the Council Member’s priorities and helping define their brand to the public.

Depending on experience and interests, the Communications Director may also take on additional portfolio items, such as project management, policy work and/or organizing initiatives.

Some evening and weekend work is required for this position.

The Job

• Own communication and digital strategy for the office, including for priority issue campaigns.
• Manage relationships with press, including pitching stories and developing long-term media narrative for Council Member.
• Draft press releases, quotes, speeches, and op-eds and prepare Council Member for interviews and speaking engagements.
• Develop holistic messaging for legislative priorities, campaign launches, and rapid response moments
• Create a social media strategy including developing a channel prioritization strategy , creating an editorial calendar, and translating messaging into social content.
• Run video creation including script writing, film direction and editing.
• Manage email program, including drafting and sending a dynamic weekly newsletter that captures the range of priorities in the office, critical resources for constituents, and key activities taking place.
• Manage all aspects of office-led press events.
• Design videos, posters, digital graphics, and other visual aids using cohesive, integrated branding.
• Attend and document events for social media as needed.
• Ensure effective communication from office to constituents, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor local, citywide, state, and national news, and update Council Member and office staff on developments related to district issues and key office priorities.
• Ensure language access on platforms and at events.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in communications or digital organizing; experience working in New York City government, non-profits, or local campaigns is preferred.
• Very strong writing skills, including in rapid response situations.
• Graphic and video design skills.
• Ability to distill complex ideas into bite sized, actionable pieces.
• Extremely organized and able to manage multiple projects.
• Strategic understanding of different social media platforms and best practices.
• Agile, deadline-oriented, works well under pressure.
• Creative approach that helps find new out of the box ways to get attention.
• Commitment to economic and social justice.
• Commitment to political action that is feminist, pro-worker, pro-immigrant, anti-racist and anti-heterosexist; alignment with the core values and policies of Lincoln Restler’s City Council platform.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity that values all people and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance, and record of arrest or conviction

Salary range: $70,000- $80,000, commensurate with experience

Additional Information:

New York City residency required within 90 days of appointment. This position will be primarily in-person at our District Office, 410 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn.

For eligible employees, health, dental and vision insurance coverage are offered upon hire. Retirement plans, deferred compensation plans, group life insurance, paid time off and paid holidays, training resources, health & fitness reimbursement and wellness programs are also available.

The New York City Council makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact EEOOfficer@council.nyc.gov.

The New York City Council is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

For eligible employees, health, dental and vision insurance coverage are offered upon hire. Retirement plans, deferred compensation plans, group life insurance, paid time off and paid holidays, training resources, health & fitness reimbursement and wellness programs are also available.